Costa del Sol marinas are almost full to capacity with an average occupancy rate of around 85 percent, recently released data shows.
The figure is a 5 percent rise from the previous year and solidifies Costa Del Sol as one of Andalusia’s premier destinations for nautical enthusiasts.
There have been protests over the summer with local residents raising issues related to overtourism but that hasn’t stopped tourists visiting the pretty Spanish city of Malaga and other areas in the ever-popular Andalusian region.
Manuel Raigón, managing director of the association, said: “This confirms the strength and attractiveness of Andalusian marinas and, specifically, those of the Costa del Sol as a top-level nautical destination, with quality standards that make them chosen over other destinations on the Andalusian coast.”
According to Raigón, the bulk of visitors from Europe come from England, Germany and France with increasing demand from Benelux consisting of Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg.
For Raigón the increase in the number of people being issued a license shows that there is a growing number of people falling and love with and wanting to explore the sea.
One increasing trend seen across the sailing market is the decrease in the amount of people owning their own boats and opting to hire instead.
Rental allows sailors to enjoy a ship without the monthly commitment of paying docking fees, insurance and staffing costs, as customers increasingly look to be more effective with their cash spend as resources tighten.
Raigón said: “The charter product is becoming increasingly fashionable in Spain, and it is a resource that is developing in Andalucía.”
So-called ‘nautical tourism’ is now looking to expand the amount of activities associated with the hobby to drive revenue further.
Such activities include scuba diving, jet skiing, windsurfing and canoeing with marinas on the Costa del Sol also offering charter trips, such as small leisure trips for observing marine life or for festive or sporting activities.
The big move now on the part of the nautical sector in Malaga and other places with popular harbours is to offer local leisure products and services on the docks of the marinas themselves, so that these, and the coastal towns they serve, can function as destinations in their own right.
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